Attachment for stapling machines



Oct. 13, 1942- J. 'r. DALTON 2,298,633

I ATTACHMENT FOR STAPLING MACHINES Filed June 11, 1.940

Patented Get. 13, 1942 UNITED STATES PTET OFFlCE by mesne assignments,to

The American Tobacco Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewJersey Application June 11, 1940, Serial No. 339,960

9 Claims.

This invention relates to wire stitchers or stapling machines and moreparticularly to apparatus for stitching tags to the strings of bags ofthe string closure type, such as tobacco bags.

In my prior application Serial No. 234,916, filed October 14, 1938 (nowPatent No. 2,207,912, granted July 16, 1940), I have disclosed andclaimed an apparatus in which bags are delivered to a feeding mechanism,individual bags are fed past the anvil of a wire stitcher and one of thestrings guided over the stitcher head at the same time that a tag is fedto the stitcher head, the feed of the bags and tags being coordinatedwith the movement of the stitcher head to stitch a tag to one of thestrings of each bag. While the apparatus of the said application is avast improvement over the application of the tags to the bag strings byhand, which was the previous practice, it necessitates collecting thebags after they are fed through the stitching machine and as aneconomical matter it requires operation of the stitcher head at arelatively high rate of speed.

In my copending application, Serial No. 374,326, filed January 114,1941, I have provided mechanism for delivering bags past the anvil of astitching machine and securing a tag to one of the strings of each bagwhich mechanism is adapted to be assembled with a tobacco bag fillingmachine and to attach the tag to the string after the bag has beenfilled. The apparatus disclosed in the present application comprisesimproved means for feeding single tags to the anvil of the stitchingmachine, coordinated with the feed of the bags, and capable of use withthe apparatus of my prior patent or the apparatus of my copendingapplication. The apparatus comprises a tube adapted to receive the tagsin stacked formation together with means for delivering a single tagtherefrom. One of the improvements forming a part of the presentinvention comprises means for partially projecting the lowermost tagfrom the tube prior to its engagement by the tag engaging fingers whichcarry it to a spider having a step by step motion for delivery to theanvil. A further improvement comprises a guide member arranged in frontof the tube and contacting with the edges of the tags with the exceptionof the lowermost tag to permit free removal of the lowermost tag fromthe tube.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown one form of the invention. Inthis showing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the lower end of the tube fromwhich thetags are delivered showing the mechanism for delivering single tags fromthe tube to the anvil;

Fig. 2 is a detailed, perspective View of the lower portion of the tagtube; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view of the lower end of the tube.

The means employed in the present machine for delivering tags to theanvil coordinated with the operation of the stitcher head is of the samegeneral type as that disclosed in my prior patent. The tags T arearranged in stacked formation in a tube 24! (see Figs. 1 to 3) ofsubstantially the same internal diameter as the diameter of the tags.The tube is supported by means of collars 2 3 3 secured to suitableportions of the frame of the machine. It is provided with a slot 245 topermit inspection of the tags within the tube. The tags are removed fromthe bottom of the tube by a tag engaging member consisting of a pair offingers 241 and 269. The lower finger 241 is fixed and the upper finger249 is pivotally mounted and carries an operating arm 25L As shown inFig. 3 the gripping portion of the finger 241 is provided with adepression 253 and the adjacent portion of the upper finger is providedwith a lug 255 in alignment therewith. The tag engaging fingers arecarried by a reciprocating member 251 with which cooperates a secondreciprocating member 259 to move the pivoted finger 249' at each end ofthe stroke of the reciprocating member 25! for the reception of a tagfrom the bottom of the tube as illustrated in Fig. 3 and delivery ofthetag from the tag engaging means to a spider which conveys it to theanvil. The reciprocating members 25'! and 259 are actuated from a pairof earns 26! and 233. These cams are provided with grooves to receivecam rollers 265 and 261, respectively. Cam roller 265 is carried by anarm 269 that is mounted in a sliding bearing 21! on the frame of themachine. This arm is connected to a link 213, the other end of which isconnected to a pin 215 mounted on the reciprocating member 251. Theroller 26'! is carried by an arm 21! pivoted to the frame of the machineat 2'19 between the cam and its end. Arm 21'! is provided with a slot281 adjacent its end which is adapted to receive a pin 233 carried bythe reciprocating member 259. The reciprocating member 259 carries a camplate 285 which is engaged by the arm 25l when the tag engaging members241 and 249 are in the position adjacent the bottom of the tube shown inFig. 3 to cause them to open to receive one of the tags. When the plate25! is reciprocated in the opposite direction a lug 281 on the oppositeend of the arm engages a cooperating member 289 carried by thereciprocating member 259 to again open the fingers 241 and 249 when thetag is to be delivered to the spider.

Means are also provided for partially ejecting the lower tag (asillustrated in Figs. 2 and 3) into a position to facilitate itsengagement by the fingers 241 and 249. As shown a rod 29I is arranged onthe side of the tube being supported in collars 253. The lower end ofthe rod is enlarged and extended as at 293 into a slot formed in thewall of the tube and forms a continuation of the wall. The rod isprovided with a spring 295 to resiliently hold it in position and permitit to yield. The position of the lower end of the rod is such that itengages the periphery of the tags with the exception of the lower tag.The downward movement of the tags is limited by a lug 29'! formed on thewall of the tube opposite the slot. A reciprocating member 299 having aforked end 39! is adapted to enter the tube opposite the grippingfingers through a horizontally disposed slot and the forked ends 39| arereduced in thickness as at 393 adjacent their extremities formingshoulders 392. 299 is reciprocated by the reciprocating member 251 so asto be fed into the bottom of the tube just before the gripping fingers249 are in position to engage a tag to partially project the bottom tagas shown in Figs. 2 and 3. As shown,

the member 251 carries a plate 395 at its rear end having a pair ofspaced arms 39! and 309. A link 3 is mounted on a pivot 313 carried by abracket M5, and one end of the link 3 carries a pin 3!! which isarranged between the fingers 307 and 333. The other end of link 3H isprovided with a slot M9 for the reception of a pin 32| carried by thereciprocating member 299. A coil spring 323 is also secured to themember 299 and is adapted to retain it in withdrawn position. The outerend of the member 299 is provided with a hand grip 325 to permit manualoperation.

The operation of the member 299 will be apparent from the foregoingdescription. reciprocating member 251 travels in a direction to bringthe fingers 24'! and 249 toward the tube, arm 399 engages pin 3! 1 toswing the link 3!] in a clockwise direction in Fig. 1 of the drawing andthe forked end 3! is projected into the tube as illustrated in Figs. 2and 3 permitting the reduced end portions 333 to engage the bottom tagand partially project it. When the reciprocating member 25'! travels inthe opposite direction, the arm engages the pin 3!! to Withdraw thereciprocating member 299 and permit the next tag to lower into aposition to be engaged by the forked end 36! upon its nextreciprocation. Cams 23| and 263 are mounted upon a vertical shaft (notshown) and driven in any suitable manner from a moving part of themachine on which the tag feeding attachment is used.

At the forward end of the stroke of the reciprocating member 25'! whenthe fingers 241 and 249 are opened by the engagement of the lug 281 andthe cooperating member 289 the tag is delivered to a pair of tagengaging fingers 343 and 345 carried by a spider 351. The spider isrotated with a step-by-step movement by means (not shown) for thepurpose of delivering one tag to the anvil 15 each time the stitcherhead is raised. The upper finger 343 of the tag engaging means isfixedly mounted on the spider The member As the 5 and the lower finger355 is pivotally mounted to permit opening of the fingers for engagementof a tag and for release of a tag when the tag is delivered to theanvil. For this purpose I provide an operating member 349 beneath thespider having cams 351 and 353 formed at its opposite ends, the cam 35!being adapted to swing the finger 345 on its pivot and thus open thepair of fingers when the tag is to be received from the reciprocatingfingers 241 and 249 and the cam 353 opening the fingers when the tag isstitched to the bag string to release it from the spider. The cam 349 isprovided with an arm 355 to oscillate it about the shaft of the spider341. This arm carries a transversely mounted arm or projection 351 whichextends below the member 289 and is positioned to be engaged by the endof arm or member 25! when the tag delivering member is in its outerposition. A spring 359 is secured to the outer end of arm 355 and to theframe of the machine to normally retain the cam in one position.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described, ta delivering mechanismcomprising a tube to receive tags in stacked relation, a pair ofreciprocating members arranged adjacent the bottom of the tube, tagengaging members carried by one of said reciprocating members, and meansactuated by one of the reciprocating members for partially projectingthe bottom tag from the tube for engagement by the tag engaging members.

2. Apparatus of the character described, tag delivering mechanismcomprising a tube to receive tags in stacked relation, a pair ofreciprocating members arranged adjacent the bottom of the tube, tagengaging members carried by one of said reciprocating members, and amember entering the tube on the side opposite the tag engaging membersto partially project the bottom tag for engagement by the tag engagingmembers.

3. Apparatus of the character described, tag delivering mechanismcomprising a tube to receive tags in stacked relation, a pair ofreciprocating members arranged adjacent the bottom of the tube, tagengaging members carried by one of said reciprocating members, anotherreciprocating member entering the tube on the side opposite the tagengaging members to partially project the bottom tag for engagement bythe tag engaging members, and means actuated by one of the firstreciprocating members for reciprocating said last mentionedreciprocating member to project a tag prior to movement of the tagengaging members into a position to engage the tag.

4. Apparatus of the character described, tag delivering mechanismcomprising a tube to receive tags in stacked relation, a pair ofreciprocating members arranged adjacent the bottom of the tube, tagengaging members carried by one of the reciprocating members, a memberentering the tube on the side opposite the tag engaging members topartially project the bottom tag for engagement by the tag engagingmembers, and means actuated by one of the reciprocating members tooperate said member.

5. Apparatus of the character described, tag delivering mechanismcomprising a tube to receive tags in stacked relation, the tube beingopen at one side adjacent the bottom to permit delivery of tags, meansfor supporting a column of tags in the tube, a rod extending in front ofthe open portion of the tube and engaging the edge of. the tags, the rodbeing positioned above the lowermost tag to permit its withdrawal, andmeans for withdrawing the lowermost tag from the tube.

6. Apparatus of' the character described, tag delivering mechanismcomprising a tube to receive tags in stacked relation, the tube beingopen at one side adjacent the bottom to permit delivery of tags, meansfor supporting a column of tags in the tube, a rod extending in front ofthe open portion of the tube and engaging the edge of the tags, the rodbeing positioned above the lowermost tag to permit its withdrawal, meansfor partially projecting the lowermost tag from the tube, and means forwithdrawing the lowermost tag after it has been projected.

'7. Apparatus of the character described, tag delivering mechanismcomprising a tube to receive tags in stacked relation, the tube beingopen at one side adjacent the bottom to permit delivery of tags, meansfor supporting a column of tags in the tube, a rod extending in front ofthe open portion of the tube and engaging the edge of the tags, the rodbeing positioned above the lowermost tag to permit its withdrawal, areciprocating member entering the side of the tube opposite the rod topartially project the lowermost tag, and means for withdrawing theprojected tag.

8. Apparatus of the character described, tag delivering mechanismcomprising a tube to receive tags in stacked relation, the tube beingopen at one side adjacent the bottom to permit delivery of tags, meansfor supporting a column of tags in the tube, a rod extending in front ofthe open portion of the tube and engaging the edge of the tags, the rodbeing positioned above the lowermost tag to permit its withdrawal, areciprocating member entering the bottom of the tube on the sideopposite the rod to partially project the lowermost tag, a pair ofreciprocating members arranged adjacent the bottom of the tube on theopposite.

side and tag engaging members carried by one of the reciprocatingmembers and adapted to receive the projected tag.

9. Apparatus of the character described, tag delivering mechanismcomprising a tube to receive tags in stacked relation, a pair ofreciprocating members arranged adjacent the bottom of the tube, tagengaging members carried by one of said reciprocating members, and areciprocating member entering the tube from the opposite side, the lastmentioned reciprocating member being provided with a reduced end forminga shoulder, the reduced end portion of said reciprocating member passingunder the lowest tag in the tube whereby the shoulder engages the edgeof the lowest tag to partially project it from the tube.

JOHN THOMAS DALTON.

